How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis

Many adults don't learn they have ADHD until later in life. The first step in receiving a diagnosis is a formal interview. This will usually involve the patient, their family members and family members, as well as other caregivers.

Find an expert by asking your primary care doctor or a mental health therapist for recommendations. You can then research their professional certification and academic degrees.

1. Visit a Psychiatrist

If you've been experiencing symptoms of ADHD, getting an evaluation is a first step towards gaining control over your condition. If you're a dreamer, often lose your keys or you don't complete tasks at home, it's important to speak with a mental health specialist who knows how to treat adults with ADHD.

A psychiatrist or clinical social worker psychologist can diagnose ADHD. Your family doctor may be able to conduct an assessment too however, many of them are not knowledgeable about ADHD in adults. A visit to a specialist experienced with treating adult ADHD can make all the difference to the success of your treatment.

In the process of evaluation your healthcare provider will examine your psychiatric and personal history. They will ask you standardized questions to evaluate your current behavior and determine if you exhibit symptoms of ADHD. If adhd diagnosis uk adults is relevant to the diagnosis, they will also look into it. They might request interviews with your significant other or colleagues and friends, too.

The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) has been updated with the criteria for determining ADHD in adults. Adults need now only five signs to meet the criteria, whereas adolescents and children must show six in order to be considered as having a diagnosis. Your doctor may recommend cognitive, learning disabilities or neuropsychological tests based on your situation.

It's important to keep in mind that medication isn't your only option to treat adult ADHD. Psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications can also help to manage symptoms. A therapist can assist you manage stress, time management and organizational abilities. They can also offer emotional support while you learn to live with ADHD.

2. Schedule an Evaluation

While we usually think of ADHD as a condition that affects children, it can continue into adulthood. A diagnosis is important for adults. To be diagnosed it is necessary undergo an assessment. The process may vary depending on the patient, but you can anticipate a long interview with a medical professional, a physical examination, and a series of questions or rating systems.

Adults will be evaluated on how their symptoms impact different areas of their lives, like family and work. They'll also consider whether you suffer from any medical conditions that could be causing the symptoms of ADHD. These could include thyroid disorders and mood disorders, as well as seizures.

As part of the evaluation you may be asked to give the details of your symptoms as far as you can. Because ADHD develops during the childhood years, the evaluator will want to determine whether you experienced some months of symptoms before age 12. This might require confirmation from your teachers or parents.


It is important to get the correct diagnosis since untreated ADHD can cause serious problems. It can impact your job, relationships, and self-esteem. Additionally, it could create financial problems and difficulties managing expenses or making payments.

Ask your physician for a recommendation or contact a mental healthcare professional who is specialized in adult ADHD. Most professionals will be willing to give you information regarding their training level and experience working with adults suffering from ADHD. If they're not willing or unwilling to share this information, that's a red flag. You can also find a qualified professional by asking for recommendations from people with ADHD or by looking at online lists of professionals.

3. Schedule a Consultation

It is essential to choose the right mental health expert to determine if you have adhd. You should seek out a professional who has experience working with ADHD in adults and who will spend the time to thoroughly assess you for the condition. If you are not familiar with specialists who specialize in ADHD, you can check your insurance policy to see whether there are any specialists within your network with experience in ADHD evaluation and treatment.

The first step is to set up a meeting with the expert you've chosen. This will allow the psychologist or psychiatrist to meet with you and determine whether ADHD is the most appropriate diagnosis for your symptoms. They'll also conduct an entire physical exam including hearing and vision tests to make sure that there isn't a health issue causing your problems.

Your symptoms must have been evident for at least 6 months ago and interfere with your ability perform in two different environments to be diagnosed as ADHD. This is the case at home, school or at work, as well as in social settings. You might be asked to fill in an assessment of your behavior to help you identify your symptoms.

The evaluator will also inquire about the family history of ADHD and may use a checklist for scoring your symptoms in relation to the DSM-5 criteria. They will also ask you questions about your school, family life, and determine whether there is a pattern to your behavior which could indicate ADHD.

Your physician may also opt to perform brain scans and blood tests as part of the assessment. They may also look into other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, like anxiety and sleep disorders.

4. Complete how to get an adult adhd diagnosis of obtaining an ADHD diagnosis is the first step to finding a treatment plan and reducing the symptoms that could be causing chaos in your life. Whether you keep losing your keys, are finding it difficult to focus at work or if your relationships are suffering, a precise diagnosis is essential to resolving these issues and determining the best coping strategies.

Your doctor will need to interview you and inquire about your history with ADHD symptoms. They'll want to know your family history, the reasons for your symptoms, and when you first noticed the symptoms, and how they've affected your work and social life. It is essential to be honest and not hide any details.

The psychiatrist or psychologist who conducts your psychiatric assessment will also look over your medical and psychopathological history. They will also use a thorough checklist to examine your symptoms and determine if you meet the criteria for ADHD. These criteria are laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5)1.

In addition to looking at your ADHD symptoms the evaluator may be looking to conduct other tests. This could include cognitive tests to rule out learning or intellectual disabilities that may be causing your issues. They'll also need to perform physical examinations to rule out illnesses like seizures and thyroid disorders that can sometimes cause similar symptoms to ADHD.

Psychologists who conduct psychological testing are trained to a specific level, which allows them to conduct thorough tests for a wide variety of disorders. They are able to recognize the signs of many disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental health issues.

5. Take a medical exam

You will be questioned by a psychiatrist or mental health professional regarding your symptoms. This can last up to an hour, depending on the practitioner. During this time, you will describe your problems in detail and answer questions about your symptoms. You may be asked to fill out similar forms by your parents or educators.

These questionnaires ask a series of questions that are standardized to improve accuracy and reduce the likelihood that different interviewers could come up with different results. They will ask about your symptoms both in the present and from childhood. They will also go over diagnostic criteria to determine the amount of ADHD characteristics you exhibit.

Some evaluators might also be inclined to run additional tests. Some evaluators will also run cognitive tests in order to check for learning or intellectual disabilities which could be the cause of ADHD symptoms. They may also check your symptoms for other illnesses, such as anxiety and depression. They can also conduct medical exams to rule other possible causes for your symptoms, including seizures and thyroid disorders.

It is essential to answer these questions in completeness and honestly. It might be awkward to discuss your problems but it will help the evaluator gain as much information as is possible. This information will be used to determine whether your ADHD symptoms can be attributed to a different condition or if it is ADHD.

It is not uncommon for a psychiatric assessor to ask other people about your symptoms. They will often ask to speak to your spouse or partner particularly if they are adults. They may also wish to talk to your teachers, parents or daycare providers, if you have children.